LPD Chief Faces Questions at First Meeting of Citizen Advisory Panel

Group picks Bruce Abels and Tim Jackson as co-chairmen.

Commission members Rick Garcia, from left, Myra Bryant and Bruce Abels listen to Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack on Thursday during the first meeting of the Lakeland Police Advisory Commission in Lakeland.

SCOTT WHEELER | THE LEDGER

By MATTHEW PLEASANTTHE LEDGER

Published: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 12:16 a.m.

LAKELAND | A citizen advisory panel delivered an opening round of questions to Chief Lisa Womack at its first meeting Thursday, engaging in a broad discussion about how the Lakeland Police Department handles records, complaints and internal investigations, all areas under recent scrutiny.

The group also tried to find its footing after five of its most visible members, including its co-chairs, resigned this week, expressing concerns over issues, including its size. By the end of the two-hour meeting, the remaining 10 members emerged somewhat more organized, with a meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and with two new chairmen.

Bruce Abels, retired president of Saddle Creek Corp. and a logistics and supply chain consultant, and Tim Jackson, chief operating officer of NuJak Development and chair-elect of Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, will lead the group.

Mayor Gow Fields organized the panel, including choosing its members, following the revelation in June of widespread sexual misconduct that, according to city officials, went on for years without employees reporting it.

Fields has asked the panel to address what he considers a narrow set of questions: How the city can encourage employees to report misconduct and how it can "improve a culture in which citizens can know their complaints will be heard, fairly evaluated and acted upon promptly," according to a list he provided to The Ledger.

The panel also must suggest measurements the city can use to gauge progress.

But if panelists' questions to Womack were any indication, they plan to look beyond the sexual misconduct and examine how the department handles public records, sends information to the media, and other issues raised in a series of critical letters from State Attorney Jerry Hill.

One of the most recent letters questioned the actions of Lt. Hans Lehman. During an investigation into the work of two officers involved in two DUI cases last year, State Attorney's investigators said they discovered Lehman, who headed LPD's Office of Professional Standards, tipped off a sergeant under investigation, showed him how to alter reports and advised him to be vague when questioned about them.

In response to questions about how well the internal investigations unit is functioning, Womack said she has reassigned Lehman and placed another lieutenant in his position.

"They are a direct report of mine; they are a direct reflection of my integrity," Womack told the panel. "I have all the faith in the world in what they're doing."

Jackson asked Womack whether officers are willing to come forward when they see a co-worker acting improperly and how the department can encourage them to do so. He said some citizens "feel that there's a curtain — that stays internal."

Womack said, as she has in the past, that the department lacked "internal accountability" when she arrived more than two years ago. She noted the recent sexual misconduct was brought to light, at least in part, as a result of a supervisor reporting the behavior of two employees.

Encouraging officers to come forward about their co-workers' actions requires making sure employees see complaints being handled in a serious manner, Womack said, and there has been improvement in that area, adding "that's a work in progress."

Abels asked Womack to explain her "infamous 'cat and mouse'" remark, a request that seemed to catch the chief off guard. In January, Womack told The Ledger that LPD sometimes played a "cat-and-mouse" game with the media when it comes to records.

"That remark was in no way intended to be construed as something that would indicate that we do not adhere to the public records laws," she told Abels. "It was in the context of an individual conversation with a reporter that was specific to one case. And so I would say to you that it is not any indication of my desire to, in any way, withhold information. ... The reporter and I disagree on the context in which it was said."

After the meeting, Abels said that explanation was the only point in her discussion in which the chief seemed "off balance." He declined to comment on her answer because he didn't know the original context in which she made the remark in question.

"Every night she lays down, I'm sure she regrets that statement," he said.

That comment was published in an article about problems obtaining public records from LPD. Soon after, a grand jury investigated the department. It issued no indictments but produced a report, which remains sealed. The sealing is on appeal.

A sex scandal and other issues then rocked the department.

Womack told the advisory panel Thursday that she expects the internal investigations into sexual misconduct to be complete by Sept. 1. An investigation into a traffic stop criticized by the State Attorney's Office, in which an officer instructed a woman to shake out her bra, could near completion this week.

By the end of the meeting, several questions about how the panel will function remained unanswered: On a panel of 10, what constitutes a quorum? Will it take public input? Can it add members, as a few suggested it needed to? And how long will the members work?

A deadline in early October was discussed. But Abels, hemmed in by reporters before he could step from the dais, said he thinks it will take much longer.

"I don't need this, personally," Abels said. "But I love the city."

[ Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]

<p>LAKELAND | A citizen advisory panel delivered an opening round of questions to Chief Lisa Womack at its first meeting Thursday, engaging in a broad discussion about how the Lakeland Police Department handles records, complaints and internal investigations, all areas under recent scrutiny.</p><p>The group also tried to find its footing after five of its most visible members, including its co-chairs, resigned this week, expressing concerns over issues, including its size. By the end of the two-hour meeting, the remaining 10 members emerged somewhat more organized, with a meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and with two new chairmen.</p><p>Bruce Abels, retired president of Saddle Creek Corp. and a logistics and supply chain consultant, and Tim Jackson, chief operating officer of NuJak Development and chair-elect of Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, will lead the group.</p><p>Mayor Gow Fields organized the panel, including choosing its members, following the revelation in June of widespread sexual misconduct that, according to city officials, went on for years without employees reporting it.</p><p>Fields has asked the panel to address what he considers a narrow set of questions: How the city can encourage employees to report misconduct and how it can "improve a culture in which citizens can know their complaints will be heard, fairly evaluated and acted upon promptly," according to a list he provided to The Ledger.</p><p>The panel also must suggest measurements the city can use to gauge progress.</p><p>But if panelists' questions to Womack were any indication, they plan to look beyond the sexual misconduct and examine how the department handles public records, sends information to the media, and other issues raised in a series of critical letters from State Attorney Jerry Hill.</p><p>One of the most recent letters questioned the actions of Lt. Hans Lehman. During an investigation into the work of two officers involved in two DUI cases last year, State Attorney's investigators said they discovered Lehman, who headed LPD's Office of Professional Standards, tipped off a sergeant under investigation, showed him how to alter reports and advised him to be vague when questioned about them.</p><p>In response to questions about how well the internal investigations unit is functioning, Womack said she has reassigned Lehman and placed another lieutenant in his position.</p><p>"They are a direct report of mine; they are a direct reflection of my integrity," Womack told the panel. "I have all the faith in the world in what they're doing."</p><p>Jackson asked Womack whether officers are willing to come forward when they see a co-worker acting improperly and how the department can encourage them to do so. He said some citizens "feel that there's a curtain — that stays internal."</p><p>Womack said, as she has in the past, that the department lacked "internal accountability" when she arrived more than two years ago. She noted the recent sexual misconduct was brought to light, at least in part, as a result of a supervisor reporting the behavior of two employees.</p><p>Encouraging officers to come forward about their co-workers' actions requires making sure employees see complaints being handled in a serious manner, Womack said, and there has been improvement in that area, adding "that's a work in progress."</p><p>Abels asked Womack to explain her "infamous 'cat and mouse'" remark, a request that seemed to catch the chief off guard. In January, Womack told The Ledger that LPD sometimes played a "cat-and-mouse" game with the media when it comes to records.</p><p>"That remark was in no way intended to be construed as something that would indicate that we do not adhere to the public records laws," she told Abels. "It was in the context of an individual conversation with a reporter that was specific to one case. And so I would say to you that it is not any indication of my desire to, in any way, withhold information. ... The reporter and I disagree on the context in which it was said."</p><p>After the meeting, Abels said that explanation was the only point in her discussion in which the chief seemed "off balance." He declined to comment on her answer because he didn't know the original context in which she made the remark in question.</p><p>"Every night she lays down, I'm sure she regrets that statement," he said.</p><p>That comment was published in an article about problems obtaining public records from LPD. Soon after, a grand jury investigated the department. It issued no indictments but produced a report, which remains sealed. The sealing is on appeal. </p><p>A sex scandal and other issues then rocked the department. </p><p>Womack told the advisory panel Thursday that she expects the internal investigations into sexual misconduct to be complete by Sept. 1. An investigation into a traffic stop criticized by the State Attorney's Office, in which an officer instructed a woman to shake out her bra, could near completion this week.</p><p>By the end of the meeting, several questions about how the panel will function remained unanswered: On a panel of 10, what constitutes a quorum? Will it take public input? Can it add members, as a few suggested it needed to? And how long will the members work?</p><p>A deadline in early October was discussed. But Abels, hemmed in by reporters before he could step from the dais, said he thinks it will take much longer.</p><p>"I don't need this, personally," Abels said. "But I love the city."</p><p>[ Matthew Pleasant can be reached at matthew.pleasant@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. ]</p>